On June 2, the convicted Italian terrorist Cesare Battisti walked out of a Brazilian prison a free man. The Battisti case is not only of interest for the remarkable indulgence displayed toward him by the left-wing establishments in both France and Brazil. It is also of interest for strictly practical reasons related to the recent arrest and pending trial of Dominique Strauss-Kahn in New York.

In February 2004, Battisti was arrested in France following the submission of an Italian extradition request. Three weeks later, he was released and placed under surveillance, pending a French court’s ruling on the request. Not only did he succeed in fleeing the country, but, if Battisti is to be believed, French authorities helped him to do so…